"nosedive": good concept, but I feel like they failed to bring it beyond just a criticism of social media into a broader attack on social signalling in society (which may well be the worst, most destructive part of human culture). *I didn't know this was written by Rashida Jones.

"playtest": Good, despite the awkward narration of events by Cooper while he's in the house.

I fell like the death was a way to give it a happier ending versus having him end up with Alzheimer's like symptoms, which is a bit of a cop-out for this show given the power of the endings of previous episodes like "15 Million Merits"

for a show that wears inducing viewer misery like a badge of honor, to have a real, honest to goodness love story appear out of nowhere was the real twist. If you weren't simultaneously shedding tears and fist-pumping during the credits, you have no soul.

I ranked these, but it's hard. Other than Nosedive and San Junipero, I loved them all. And even those two were pretty good. Fuck it, despite the list that follows, I declare these episodes unrankable.

1:3 The Entire History of You2:2 White Bear3:2 Playtest2:4 White Christmas1:2 Fifteen Million Merits3:3 Shut Up and Dance3:5 Men Against Fire1:1 The National Anthem2:1 Be Right Back3:6 Hated in the Nation2:3 The Waldo Moment3:1 Nosedive3:4 San Junipero

I'm up to San Junipero - first episode was AWFUL, 2 and 3 were OK, San Junipero was wonderful, so a pretty mediocre season so far.

It was the weakest season by far, but I also feel like sometimes Black Mirror doesn't know where to go with the premises. It builds up this nightmarish scenario and then it just sits there. Episode 5 of this season is a great example of this. Interesting premise (if heavy-handed), then plateaus early and resolves in the lamest way. Episode 1 of season 2, same thing.

I think watching season 3 and seeing all of its weaknesses laid out so clearly (obvious and heavy-handed social commentary, mostly staid and ordinary visuals, narrative limpness, weak resolutions) has made me think less of the 2 previous seasons.

_________________I have so many memories of driving down... Todman Ave